Miniature rose plant `Spring Bouquet`

ABSTRACT

The subject of the present disclosure is a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant, named `Spring Bouquet`, which is characterized by its blooms which range in color from near Crimson to near Rose Bengal with a reverse of near Naple Yellow to near Barium Yellow, usually borne one to a stem with hybrid tea form. The bush is vigorous, well-branched and produces moderate quantities of bloom.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of a hardy,dwarf, bush plant of the miniature class; the variety being primarilycharacterized as pink blend.

The variety is further characterized by:

Long stemmed blooms of hybrid tea-type form, borne usually one to a stembut on occasion in sprays of 3 to 5 or more. The blooms are held veryerect and well above the foliage.

It has a slight fragrance.

The plant ranges in height from 15 to 24 inches (40 to 60 cm). The canesare sturdy and erect with moderate branching and medium to heavy foliagecovering. The plant is a moderate bloomer that does well either in thegreen house or outdoors.

The plant has a good growth habit, well-shaped and attractive, bearingnumerous leaflets of average size.

The seed parent was Portrait (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,097), and the pollenparent was Party Girl (Miniature Rose Plant, yellow blend; H. Saville;introduced by Nor'East Miniature Rose Nursery, 1979). It differs fromits seed parent in the following way. It is a miniature, and Portrait isa hybrid tea. It differs from its pollen parent in the following way. Itis a pink blend, and Party Girl is a yellow blend.

The descriptive matter which follows, pertains to roses grown and colorvalues observed in plants and newly opened blooms in the months of Marchthrough August 1985. The plants were grown outdoors in Chula Vista,Calif., and are believed to be accurate standards for this cultivar insimilar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

The color photograph illustrates the variety.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant named `Spring Bouquet`, the following is a detaileddescription thereof in outline; all major color plate identificationsbeing by reference to the British Colour Council Horticultural ColourChart, except where common terms of color definition are employed.

Type: Hardy, dwarf, bushy, green house or outdoor, decorative andexhibition potted plant.

Class: Miniature.

Variety name: Spring Bouquet.

Asexual reproduction: I have found this variety to be easily asexuallyreproduced from cuttings.

Flowers borne: Usually one to a stem, but occasionally in sprays of 3 to5 or more on erect stems with foliage well below the blooms.

Quantity of bloom: Moderate both outdoors or green house grown.

Bud:

Peduncle.--Variable in length (30 to 40 mm); average diameter andsturdy; ranging in color from near Lettuce Green (861 to 861/2 page 176)to near Scheeles Green(860 to 860/2 page 175) with some tinting ofbronze.

Hairs.--Extremely small and numerous with a reddish color; located overthe entire surface of the peduncle and sepals, but not present on thecalyx tube.

Calyx:--Color ranging from near Lettuce Green (861 to 861/3 page 176) tonear Scheeles Green (860 to 860/3 page 175).

Opening.--Opens well in all weather.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.--Average for a miniature variety (40 to 50 mm).

Petalage.--Full -- averaging 25 to 35 petals, arranged regularly, pluspetaloids (6 to 10 or more).

Form.--Urn-shaped to ovoid as the bloom progresses. The petals remain atfirst somewhat tightly cupped with the apex and/or margins reflexedoutward, becoming at maturity more loosely cupped; and the petalsreflexed more tightly (quilling), until each row of petals forms a fivepointed star.

Petals: Fairly thick with good substance; both the upper and undersurfaces of all petals have a matte finish.

Shape.--Outer petals are of a very broad obovate form. The intermediatepetals are very much like the outer petals only narrower. The innerpetals are a broad lanceolate form; and the petaloids are alsolanceolate form with some occasional irregularities.

Color: Newly opened flowers from plants grown outdoors (March throughAugust 1985), Chula Vista, Calif.

Outside petals.--Upper surface -- Ranging from near Crimson (22/2 to22/3 page 22) to near Rose Bengal (25/2 to 25/3 page 25) with a base ofnear Naples Yellow (403/2 to 403/3 page 121). Under surface -- Rangingfrom near Naples Yellow (403/1 to 403/2 page 121) to near Barium Yellow(503/1 to 503.2 page 131).

Intermediate petals.--Upper surface -- Ranging from near Crimson (22/1to 22/2 page 22) to near Rose Bengal (25/1 to 25/2 page 25) with a baseof near Naples Yellow (403/1 to 403/2 page 121). Under surface --Ranging from near Naples Yellow (403 to 403/2 page 121) to near BariumYellow (503 to 503/2 page 131).

Inner petals.--Upper Surface -- Ranging from near Crimson (22 to 22/2page 22) to near Rose Bengal (25 to 25/2 page 25) with a base of nearNaples Yellow (403 to 402/2 page 121). Under surface -- Ranging fromnear Naples Yellow (403 to 403/2 page 121) to near Barium Yellow (503 to503/2 page 131).

General color effect.--Newly opened flowers range from near Crimson tonear Rose Bengal with a base of near Naples Yellow and a reverse rangingfrom near Naples Yellow to near Barium Yellow. Three to five days --Some fading of all colors. After 7 days -- Petals continue to fade incolor with quilling of all margins.

Flower longevity.--(March through August 1985) Plant in pot 4 to 7 daysfrom bud with sepals reflexed to fully opened bloom. Holding at fullyopened with gradual fading of color tones for 5 to 7 days longer. Cutblooms at living room temperature 3 to 5 days or longer.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--A generous amount arranged uniformly around the pistil.

Filaments.--Varying in length with shorter filaments more proximal tothe pistil; pale yellow in color with golden anthers.

Pollen.--Abundant.

Pistil.--Short, abundant and spreading; reddish styles with pale yellowcaps.

Ovaries.--All encased in calyx.

Hips.--Some.

Seeds.--One to five or more per hip.

Sepals.--Permanent; spear-shaped; open as the bloom opens, eventuallyrecurves against the peduncle.

Foliage:

Leaves.--Five to seven leaflets on the average; medium size for aminiature rose plant.

Leaflets.--Broad ovate-shaped.

Margin.--Very serrated with occasional tinting of bronze, especiallynoticeable on the newer foliage.

Color.--Ranging from near Spinach Green (0960 to 0960/2 page 187) tonear Scheeles Green (860 to 860/2 page 175) on the newer foliage withoccasional bronzing of the margins, especially on the newer foliage. Theupper surfaces have a semi-glossy finish, and the under surfaces have amatte finish of a slightly lighter shade than the upper surfaces.

Rachis.--Medium strength; upper surface is grooved with very small hairsover the length of it. Under surface has few if any hairs but doescontain 2 to 5 small thorns.

Stipules.--Varying in length from small to average width; taperingauricles angled outward at about 45 degrees.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf, bushy; average height for a miniature rose plant.

Growth.--Moderate and well-branched.

Canes.--Medium diameter; sturdy; held erect.

Main stems.--Color -- Ranging from near Scheeles Green (860 to 860/2page 175) to near Spinach Green (0960 to 0960/3 page 187).

Thorns.--Averaging 5 to 10 per 10 cm on the main stems and fewer on thebranches. Reddish in color with occasional tinting of bronze. Small toaverage in size; slender and straight.

Branches.--Color -- Same as the main stems.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary inslight detail due to climate, soil and cultural conditions under whichthe variety may be grown; the present description being of the varietyas grown in Chula Vista, Calif.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant named `Spring Bouquet`, of a hardy, dwarf, moderate growth,well-branched and attractive appearance, substantially as illustratedand described, characterized by its blooms ranging in color from nearCrimson to near Rose Bengal with a base of near Naples Yellow and areverse ranging from near Naples Yellow to near Barium Yellow withflowers borne usually one to a stem, but occasionally in sprays of 3 to5 or more.